Miller v. GreenLeaf Orthopedic Assocs., S.C.

In 2009, a growth was discovered on Venita’s pancreas. She was told that cancer could not be ruled out without further testing. She told her supervisor, Linda. Because Venita did not have health insurance and needed money for the testing and other medical care, she asked if she could forgo taking a vacation and receive extra pay instead. Linda agreed. During the following week, Venita was scheduled for jury duty, but called in sick. She did not go to work or jury service. One week later, Linda fired Venita. The employer claimed that Venita had pretended she was at jury duty,, so that she would get paid for the week (she had used all of her paid sick days for the year). Another employee reported seeing Venita around town. Venita sued, claiming she was fired because Linda thought she had a disability. A jury disagreed. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, rejecting an argument the trial judge abused his discretion by excluding evidence from Venita’s diary, indicating that Linda had given her the week off, and challenges to rulings concerning her multiple attempts to impeach Linda’s trial testimony about messages and conversations between Venita and Linda. View "Miller v. GreenLeaf Orthopedic Assocs., S.C." on Justia Law